POUGHKEEPSIE – Nicole Addimando’s sentence for murder and gun charges has been reduced by the NYS Appellate Court in a Wednesday, July 14 decision. Addimando was serving a 19-years-to-life sentence for the murder of her boyfriend, Christopher Grover. Addimando has had the sentence reduced to 7 1/2 years on the murder charge and 3 1/2 years in prison on the weapons charge.
Addimando’s attorneys filed an appeal in April of this year arguing that Judge McLoughlin denied Addimando’s request under the 2019 New York Domestic Violence Survivors Justice Act (DVSJA or DV Survivor’s Act)) when considering sentencing. The DVSJA allows for a judge to reduce the sentencing of a defendant if there is proof that the crime, in this case, the killing of Grover, is the result of domestic violence. Addimando’s original defense team had argued strenuously that Grover abused Addimando sexually, physically, and emotionally before she shot him.
The Appellate Court agreed with the argument in a decision dated Wednesday, July 14. Addimando’s original sentence on the gun charge was 15 years in prison, before being reduced to 3 1/2 years. Ms. Addimando will be required to serve five years of post-release supervision when her prison terms expire. The sentences will run concurrently, meaning the prison terms are served at the same time.
In the decision released on Wednesday, Appellate Court Justice Reinaldo Rivera said “The DV Survivor’s Act permits courts to impose reduced alternative sentences in certain cases involving defendants who are victims of domestic violence.” The jurist also noted the historical significance of this appeal, saying ” This case appears to be the first time that an appellate court has the opportunity to address the DV Survivor’s Act.”
